Machine for making tire casings



s Sheets-Sheet 1 I llllll c. H. DESAUTELS MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CASINGS Filed Jan. 10, 1939 Aug. 26, I941.

QNN WM.

INVENTOR CHARLES H. DESAUTELS BY M A ORNEYS g- 1941- c. H. DESAUTELS 2,253,896

MACHINE FOR MAKING TI'RE CASINGS Filed Jan. 10, 1939' 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 8- 1941- c. H. DESAUTELS 7 2,253,396

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CASINGS Filed Jan. 10, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 50 Z 2 I0 6 45 I 5 INVENTOR I I CHARLES H. QEsAuTELS ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1941. c. H. DESAUTELS 2,253,895 MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE. CASINGS Filed Jan. 10, 1939 8 Sheets- Sheet 4 33 INVENTOR CHARLES H. DESAUTELS $41 $2M ATTORNEYS 2 1941- c. H. DESAUTELS 2,253,896

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CASINGS Filed Jan. 10, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 13

INVENTOR CHARLES H. DESAUTELS TTORNEYS Aug. 26,1941. I c. H. DESAUTELS 5 MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CASINGS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 10, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS cngmas H. DES'AUTELS Aug. 26, 1941. c. H. DESAUTELS 2,253,396

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CASINGS 7 Filed Jan. 10, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 6 25 !24- INVENTOR CHARLES H. DESAUTELS T g. 25 $2M;

TTORNEYS 1941- c: H. DESAUTELS 2,253,896

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE GASINGS Filed Jan. 10, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR CHARLES H. DEs uTELs I72 I77 I85 174 IBSISZ BY TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 26, 1941 NIACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CASINGS Charles H. Desautels, Springfield, Mass assignor, by mesne assignments, to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 10, 19-39, Serial No. 250,153

6 Claims. (01. 154-10) My invention relates to machines for constructing pneumatic tire casings. It is particularly adapted for the construction of bicycle tire casings, and in the accompanying drawings and following specification I have illustratively dis- Closed the invention as embodied in a machine for that purpose; It will be understood, however, that the principles of the invention are applicable to other tires of similar structural design.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a machine by which the casing can be completely constructed with a minimum of reliance on the personal equation of the operator and in amoreexpeditious manner than is possible with prior machines. By my invention a higher and more uniform quality of product is secured with a decrease in unit cost.

Other andfurther objects will be made apparent in the following specification and claim-s.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine constructed in accordance withmy' invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view (looking from the right of Fig. 1), a partially constructed casing, with parts broken away, being shown on the drum,

Fig. 3' is a sectional view of the drum and fabric lappers, and their operating mechanism, substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1',

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view of the drum alone but takenon a line at right angles to that of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view substantially on line 55 of Fig. 3,

Figs. 6- to 8 inclusive are end views of the drum showing successive positions of the parts from set up or operative position to collapsed position,

Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive are e'xploded'detail views of the drum collapsing mechanism with the parts in positions corresponding respectively to those of Figs. 6. to- 8 inclusive,

Figs. 12' to 17 inclusive are fragmentary sectional views of the drum and lappers in the relative positions they occupy during the various stages in the construction of a casing, v

Fig. 18 is a detail front elevational; view of the mechanism operating the lappers when the latter are in the position shown in Fig. 1 5,

Fig. 19 is a sectional view suhstantially'on line i 9|9'of Fig. 18, j

Fig. 2.0 is an end elevational view, partly in section, showing the means for uncoupling the lappers and the means for limiting outward movement of the outer lapper,

Fig. 2-1 is a detail perspective view showing the lapper coupling mean-s in position for disengagement, 7

Fig. 22 is a sectional view of the uncured tire as built by the machine,

Fig. 23 is a similar sectional View showing an alternative form of tread,

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the tread guiding means,

Fig.25 is a sectional view substantially on line 2 5 2'5'of Fig. 26, on a larger scale than Fig. 2

Fig. 2 6 is a front elevational view of the delivery portion of the material supply mechanism,

Fig. 27 is a detail sectional view substantially on line 21-21 of Fig. 28, with parts broken away,

Fig. 28 isa fragmentary plan view of the bead applying device parts being shown in section,

Fig. 29- is a fragmentary sectional view subs-tanti'all-y on line ill-29 of Fig. 28,

Fig. 30" is a detailplan View, partly in section, 7

showing the bead cutter,

Figs. 31 to 33 inclusive are detail side elevationa-l views showing successive positions of the tread applying roll,

Fig. 34 is a sectional View, on a larger scale, taken substantially on line 34-44 of Fig, 1.

Referring tothe drawings, indicates a drum upon which the elements of the tire casing are assembled and the casing constructed. The drirnlfl' is mounted upon a driven shaft H supported from a housing F2 in any suitable manner and driven-from an electric motor or other source of power, not shown, located in the housing. Drum it is provided with special head positioning grooves it, later referred to. Also mounted on the shaft f l, positioned on opposite sides of the drum H1 and concentric therewith are two cylindrical fabric lapping members it and l5;

7 Referring to Figs. 3 to 11 inclusive, the drum H) is formedinthree segmerits. Segment I5 which may include ubstantially half ofthe perimeter of the drum is secured by means of three spokes I 1 toahub t8: rotatably' mounted on a sleeved? dried on shaft H as by a key Drum segment 2 is: hinged to an end of segment 16 as at ZZfandisconnected by a link. 23 to a ring 2 mounted on sleeve [9. The third drum segment is hinged 2317 261 to: the other end of segment l6; and is connected by a link 2'! to a ring 28- rotatabl y mo'untedon sleeve [5. Hub l8 and rings 24' and 28 are held on sleeve I9 between a flange 25 formed on the outer end of the sleeve and a collar 29 threaded on the opposite end of the sleeve. During the building operation hub H3 is held fixed to sleeve!!!- by a pin (see Fig.

4) slidably mounted in the hub and engageable in a recess 3| in the sleeve. Pin 39 is connected by a link 32 to a lever 33. A spring 34 normally keeps pin 30 in engagement with the recess 3I so that the drum rotates with the shaft II. When lever 33 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 the pin 39 is withdrawn and hub I8 is free to rotate on sleeve I9.

Relative movement between hub I8 and sleeve I9 is employed to collapse drum segments 2I and as shown in Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive. Referring to the latter group of figures, ring 24 is shown pinned to sleeve I9 by a pin 36 which extends through flange 29 and the ring and between'two spaced pins 31 and 38 carried by ring 28. Pin 31 extends through ring 28 in position to engage a pin 49 carried by hub I8. When the drum is in operative set up condition pins 40, 31 and 3-6 are in circumferential contact with each other as shown in Fig. 6.

Assuming, now, that look pin has been withdrawn to release hub I8 from sleeve I9 and that shaft I I and sleeve I9 which is keyed thereto are held against rotation, drum I9 is rotated to a position shown in Fig. 7. Hub I8 which is rigidly connected to the drum by spokes I'I moves with drum and ring 28 is carried with it by link 21. During this movement sleeve I9 and the parts secured thereto remain stationary and drum segment 2i is drawn inward due to its connection by link 23 to sleeve I9. At this point pin 38 contacts pin 36, thus preventing further rotation of the ring 28, and in the further rotation of the hub I8 segment 25 is drawn inwardly by link 21, as shown in Fig. 8, which connects segment 25 to the now stationary ring 28. As will be obvious reverse movement of the drum parts relative to sleeve I9 will return the drum to the set up position of Fig. 6. The driving mechanism for shaft II which is enclosed in housing I2 includes low and high speeds and suitable brake mechanism, not shown, operated respectively by foot pedals M, 42 and43, by which the operator can positivea hub 41 slidably mounted on an enlarged portion 48 of shaft II. The fiat members are positioned closely adjacent each other, as shown in Fig. 2, to form a substantially continuous cylindrical surface. A clip 369 (Fig. 2) is provided on member I4 to assist the operator in holding the fabricon the drum, as later described. Lapping member I5 is constructed similar to member I4 comprising flat members 59 secured to the periphery of a wheel member including spokes 5I secured to'a hub 52. Member I5 is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the reduced end portion 53 of shaft I I as by a spline 54. During the initial tire building steps the lapping members I4 and I5 are positioned as shown in Fig. 3 with the free edges of cylinders formed by the fiat members 45 and slightly overlapping the opposite edges of drum. I0, and in effect forming continuations of the drum surface.

Member I4 is adapted to be moved toward drum III as shown in Fig. 15 by means of a collar 58 slidably mounted on enlarged shaft portion 48. Collar 58 is pivotally mounted, by trunnions .59,

between the arms of a forked guide lever 60 pivoted by means of a link 6| to ya bracket 52 secured to the side of housing I2. A spring connected between lever 68 and housing I2 (Fig. 3) tends to keep the collar adjacent the housing. Collar 58 is provided with a longitudinally extending flange 66 to which is fixed a split ring 63 engaging in a groove 61 formed in hub 41 so that member I4 is free to rotate relative to the collar but is constrained to move with it longitudinally on the shaft. Collar 58 is reciprocated on the shaft by means of split ring 63. slidably mounted in a boss 64 formed on collar 58 is a pin 68 swiveled at its outer end in a lever 69 pivoted at ID to a bracket II carried by the collar. The inner end of pin 68 is provided with a follower head I2 engageable in' double grooves I3 of opposite pitch formed in portion 48 of the shaft. When the follower head is engaged in the groove and the shaft is rotated the collar 58 is constrained to travel toward the end of the shaft, moving member I 4 to the position of Fig. 15, and upon reaching the end of one groove to return along the other bringing .the member I4 back to its initial position. Follower head 12 is normally urged into driving engagement with grooves I3 by a spring I5 but is adapted to be locked in retracted position by a latch arm I6 pivoted to the collar 58 at IT and having a lug I8 adapted to engage a lug I9 on lever arm 69 to hold the latter in pin retracting position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Arm I6 is releasably held in looking position by a spring 89. When latch arm I6 is raised as shown in Fig. 19, pin 68 and lever 69 move inwardly under the influence of spring I5 to cause follower head I2 to engage in grooves 13. Upon return of collar 58 upon the completion of a cycle of operation the follower head I2 rides onto a rounded projection 8| formed on shaft portion 48 at the end of grooves I3, retracting follower head I2 and permitting latch arm I6 to drop into locking engagement with lever 69, thus holding follower head I2 out of engagement with the grooves until again released. 7

Two diametrically opposite spokes 46 of member I4 are provided with longitudinally extending rods adjustably secured to the spokes by nuts 86. Rods 85 extend through openings 81 formed in spokes II of drum ID, constraining member I4 to rotate with the drum. The outer ends of rods 85 are formed with flattened locking heads 88. Two diametrically opposite spokes 5I of member I5 are provided with pairs of hooked locking fingers pivoted at SI to short shafts 92 journaled in the spokes 5|. Fingers 99 are drawn together by springs 93. When member I4 is advanced toward the drum, as previously described, with heads 88 are forced between fingers 90 as member I4 reaches its further point of advance, the springs 93 yielding to permit the fingers to ride over head 88 and causing them to engage behind the head as shown in Fig. 15, thus locking member I5 to member I4. As the member I4 returns to normal position it carries member I5 with it, as shown in Fig. 16. -When member I4 comes to rest in its original position member I5 is released therefrom by rotating shafts 92 through an arc of 90, bringing fingers 99 opposite the flat sides 94 of heads 88 as best shown in Fig. 21, in which position member I5 can be withdrawn. 'Shafts 92 are provided on theirouter ends (Figs. 1 and 20) with arms 95 connected by links 96 to a plate 91 pivoted at I04 to one of the spokes 5I of member I5. Plate 91 is provided with a handle 98 by which the plate may be rocked on its pivot from the position shown in Fig. 1 in which it is normally held by a spring 89,. to that of Fig. 2a to rotate fingers 90' from looking to unlocking position.

The initial operating position. of member I5 with the cylinder forming member overlapping the edge of the drum as shown in Fig. 3;, is defined by a. notch 99 formed in shaft It, into which a pin Hill is adapted to engage. Best shown in Fig. 20 pin I is slidably mounted in hub 52 and a boss Ilti formed between spokes 51. A spring 102 compressed between boss. I01 and a collar I53 secured to the pin, urges the pin into engagement with slot 99.

For the purpose of removing the finished tire from the. drum as later described, it is necessary to move member IS. on shaft H to a point, as

shown in Fig. 17 beyond its normal operating position. Pin I110 is withdrawn from slot 99 to permit this by means of a cammember I secured to the rear of plate 51 and movable therewith. Cam I05 engages in a recess IOE formed in collar I 03 to raise the pin III) against spring m as the plate 91 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 20, in which the fingers 90 are released from heads 88, shown in 21, so that the operator can by hand withdraw member I5 to the. end of the shaft, leaving" a space between .the drum and member IS.

The tire as constructed by the machine is formed from a length of bias fabric 0, preferably cord fabric, folded on itself as shown in Fig. 22 to form a" two ply tire with inextensible bead members b enclosedin the folds. A. length of rubber forming the side wall and tread is plied onto the fabric. As shown in Fig. 22' the rubber covering consists of two strips 0 and d, the strip 0 beingof sufficientwidth to extend to the bead edges and form the sidewall portions e. Strip d is of a width and shape to form the tread portion, and is applied centrally of the strip c. The

strips 0 and d may be of diii-erent color as for example strip- 0 may be white and the tread strip black, thus forming a white sid'ewalled tire. In Fig. 23 the rubber covering is formed inone piece Land is calendered or extruded to a shape to provide a 'central thickened' tread portion g and thinner side wall portions h.

The materials of which thetire is constructed are advantageously supplied to the drum in web or stripform from which strip the: desired amount is severed or otherwise separated after it has been wound in position on the drum. To facilitate this I provide sliding guiding means-for the several materials arranged in superposed relation in the order in which the materials are applied to the drum, and each guidebeing movable from a position remote from the drum to a position of substantial tangency to the drum.

Referring to Fig. 1, the fabric element a is supplied in the form of a web-A from a roll IID mounted on a standard II I. in a liner H in the customary manner, and the liner and fabric are drawn from the roll H0 around a roll I I2 upon. which the liner is wound, the fabric passing around a driven roll M3 to a fabric guiding table II4', provided ati-tsrear edge with an anti-friction roll H5 over which the fabric passes. Table H4 is slidably mounted between standards I-I5- (Figs. 1 and 26) by means of rods I I1 secured tothe underside of" the table and sliding in bearings IE8. secured to the standards. The table is-provided with side members II-9 between which the fabricis guided as it is drawn over the table. Table :4 is moved from its retracted position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to a position closely adjacent and sub- The fabric is wound p at I21 to a. bracket I28: and provided with a stud I29 engagingbeneath treadle I20.

The 'inextensibl e bead material B which is preferably in the form of rubber covered wire, is supplied from a reel or reels I mounted on a standard I36 (Fig. l). The bead wires B, from which the lengths b are later out, are drawn upwardly from reels I35 around guide rolls. I31 through pipe conduits I 38 which form part of a reciprocating guide mechanism. The rear ends of pipes I38 are supported on arms I40 pivoted at their upper ends to a rod I'4I connecting the ends of the conduits, and at their lower ends to blocks I42 at I43. The: forward ends of the pipes I38 are secured in blocks M4 (Fig. 24) to the ends of slides I45 traveling in guide ways I45 (Figs. 25 and 26) formed in guide members I41. Guide members I 41 are supported from spaced side plates I5II as later described. Side plates I are supported on standards H5 by studs I, spacing collars I52 being positioned on the studs between the standard H6 and side plates I50. Rearwardl'y extending frame members I53 are secured at their forward ends to the side plates I50 by bolts I54 and are supported adjacent their rear ends by brackets I55 (Fig; I)' secured to standards I56. The forward ends of guides I41 are riveted or otherwise secured as at I48 to the lower ends of vertical frame members I51 and the rear ends of the guides are similarly secured to the lower ends of vertical frame members I 64 (Fig. 25) bolted at I59 to brackets I BII- riveted to longitudinal member I53. Spacing collars IBI (Fig. 26) on bolts I59 hold members I54 proper- 1y spaced from the brackets and in the same vertical plane as member I51.

' The slides I45 are connected together by one or more cross rods, one of which is shown in sec-, tion at I62 in Fig. 25, and the forward endsof slides I45 are provided with handles I83 by either of which the slides I45 may be drawn forwardly in the guides I45. Forward movement of the slides carries the pipe I38 with it, support I40 swinging to the dotted line position in Fig. 1. Forward movement of slides I45 is limited by adjustable stop members I55 secured-to the rear ends of the slides and adaptedto engage the end of guide I41 asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The pipes I38 are supported intermediate their ends by rollers I65 journaled in depending brackets I61, riveted or otherwise secured to the ends of frame members I53. Preferably the pipes I38 are interrupted by tanks- I68 for containing gasoline or other solvent to render the rubber coating of the bead wires tacky. The tanks are provided with felt wipers I5 9 for applying the solvent to the beads asthe latter pass between them. I

From the forward ends of the pipes I38 the bead wires pass through guide blocks I-Iiibolted at I-1I to slides [45 and over'elongated plates I12 secured to the bottoms of the blocks I10 (Figs. 2'1 and 28) 'to a carriage generally indicated at I14. slidably mounted on slides I45.

Carriage I14 comprises side members I15 provided with grooves I16 (Fig. 29) engaging guides I11 secured to slides, I45. The forward movement of the carriage with respect ,to. slides I45 is limited by the engagement of a pin I18, carried on one of the members I15, with a stopmeme ber I19 secured to the. adjacent slide I45. The side members I15 are connected by cross members I88 and NH, .the latter being in the'form of a cam roll for actuating the bead cutters as later described. Members I15 are channeled as at I84 for the passage of the bead wires and these channels are entered by pawls I85 and I86 which engage the bead wires and prevent rearward movement of thelatter while permitting .them to be drawn freely forward. Pawls I85 are pivoted at I81 in blocks I88 secured to slides I45, the blocks being connected by a cross brace I89. Pawls I86 are pivoted on removable. pins ISO in the side members I15 of thecarriage I14, and'are provided with weight arms I9I which cause the pawls to positively engage the wires. As will be evident from Figs. 2'1 and 28 as slides I 45 are drawn forward (by handles I83) the set of pawls I86 act to draw the bead wires forward. After slides I45 reach their limit of forward movement, carriage I14 is moved forward on guides I11 as later described. During the forward movement of the carriage pawl I88 draws the wire forward with the carriage, the wire passing under pawl I85 which is now stationary. When carriage I14 is moved rearwardly on guides I11, pawl I85 (still stationary) prevents the wire moving backwardly with the carriage with the result that the carriage passes backwardly over the stationary wire and the wire is projected beyond the end of the carriage an amount equal to the rearward movement of the carriage relative to slides I45, that is until the pin I18 on side members I15 strike the blocks I 88. V

Means for severing the bead material are mounted in the forward end of carriage I14. As best shown in Figs. 28 and 30 the cutters comprise bevel-ended cutters I92 substantially square in cross section, slidably mounted in openings I93 formed in members I15 and intersecting the bead channels I84. The channels I84 are narrowed as indicated at- I94 where the cutters cross them and hardened cutting blocks I95 are set in the channel walls in position to cooperate with the cutting edges of the members I92.- The cutting members I92 are reciprocated from the position shown in Fig. 30 to the position of Fig. 28 to sever the beads by means of cam grooves I 96' formed in roll I8 I, previously mentioned.

The inner ends, of cutters I92 are provided with blocks I91 carrying pins I98 following in grooves I96, which as shown in'Fig. 30, are outwardly inclined to move the cutters outwardly and across the bead channels when the roll I8I is rotated. A handle I99 is provided by which the cam roll may be operated. The forward end of channels I84 are provided with tapered guide spouts 200 secured to the ends of members I by machine screws 2IlI. As shown in Fig. 2'1, and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, guide spouts 200 deliver the bead wires into substantial tangency with the surface of the drum Ill, when both the slides I45 and carriage I14 are in extended position. i I For rolling the beads onto the tire fabric on the drumas later more fully described, a pair of flanged bead rolls 2I0 are rotatably mounted on the ends of a shaft 2. The shaft 2 is centrally pivoted on a stud 2I2fixed to a shaft 2I3 journaled in bracket 2I4 projecting from the ends of members. I15. A handle 2I5 is bolted at 2I6 to shaft 2Il by. which the operator presses the rolls 2I8 against the heads as the latter are drawn onto the drum. The pivotal mounting of the shaft 2I I on stud 2I2 permits the bead rolls totilt as when fabric splices are encountered. When not in use the rotatable mounting of shaft 2I3 permits the bead rolls'to be folded back on the carriage I14 as shown in Fig. 25. As shown in the latter figure the projected portion of the beadrmaterial B rests on plates 2I1 secured to slides I45.

The tread material is supplied from rolls and as shown the machine is adapted to supply either a two piece tread as shown in Fig. 22 or a one piece tread as in Fig. 23. Assuming for the present that the two piece tread is being employed, the wide, strip 0 issupplied in the form of a web C from a roll 220 mounted on standards I56. The web C is wound -in.a liner H and the liner and webare drawn from the roll 220 around a roll 22I upon whichthe liner is wound, the web C passing arounda driven roll 222 and over a guide roll 223 rotatably mounted in frame members I 53 to a tread-guide generally indicated at 225. The narrow tread strip d is similarly supplied in the form of a web D from a roll 226 mounted on standard 221. The web D is wound in. a liner H and the liner and web are drawn from roll 226 around a roll 228 upon which the liner is wound. 'The web D passes downwardly around a driven roll 229 and upwardly between guide rolls 238 rotatably mounted in frame members I53 to tread guide 225. In order to properly position the web C a pair of spaced guide bars 234 (Figs. 24 and 34) are mounted for transverse adjustment on the rods 232, the bars being simultaneously moved toward or from each other by ja shaft 235 rotatably mounted in lugs 236 secured to side members 23I and reversely treaded in lugs 231- secured to bars 234. Shaft 235 is provided with a hand wheel 238 to facilitate adjustment of the bars.

Similarly, to properly position the web D, the

upper set of rods 233 are provided with guide bars 240 adjustable toward and from each other by means of shafts 2M rotatably mounted in lugs 242 secured-to side members 23I and reversely threaded in lugs 243 secured to guide bars 240. Shafts 24I are pro-vided with operating hand Wheels 244.; p

From guide 225 the webs C and D pass in superposed relation onto aguide 245pivotally connected at' 2 39 to the forward end of guide 225.

Guide 245comprises side members 245 slidably mounted, as best shown in Figs. 25 and 26 in guide members 241 secured to frame members I64 and I51 to whichv guides I41 are secured as previously described. The forward ends of guide members 241 aresecured to'the bolts I54 thus supporting the frame made up of guides I41, members I51,; I64 and guide members 241 (Fig. 25) from side plates I50, spacers I58 are positioned onbolts I54 between guide members 241 and frame members I53 (Fig. 26) which are also supported on the bolts I54. lvlernbers 248 are connected by a plurality of rods 248 over which the tread passes. The forward end of-guide 2451s provided with short guide members 249 slidably mounted on a rod 250 and adapted to be adjusted toward and from each other by a central nut member 25I in the ends of which are engaged reversely threaded screws 252 fised to the members 249. Th ide members; 246 are provided at their forward ends with outwardly flaring extensions 255 to which are secured handles 256 by which the guide 245 may be drawn outwardly to a point of substantial tan'gency with drum Ill for delivery ofthe tread to the surface of the drum. As guide 245 is drawn forward it draws guide 225 with it and to facilitate movement of the latter it is supported (Fig. 1) on rolls 251 rotatably mounted in the upper ends. of members 155. When the tread guides are in their forward or delivery position web C passes to guide 225 over an auxiliary roll 258 as shown in dotted lines in Fig.1.

The tread is pressed onto the tire carcass by a tread roll 26!] (Figs. 31-33) rotatably mounted in the forks 26I of a forked member 252. The ends of the forks are pivotally connected at 263 to the ends of arms 254 which in turn are pivoted at 265 to the outer ends of supporting members 266. Members 266 are secured (Fig. 25) at their rear ends to frame member I64 by bolt I59 and intermediate their length to member I 51. The connection of members 266 to frame member I51 is by means of bolts 251 passing through slots 268 in members I51 permitting vertical adiustment of members 266. Screws 269 threaded in blocks 216 secured to the upper ends of frame members I51 and engaging the top of members 266 facilitate the accurate adjustment of the members,

Arms 264 are adapted to be swung about their pivots 255 to move the roll 260 from the inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 and 31 to the operative position of Fig. 33, and means are provided for releasably locking the arms in both of these extreme positions. As shown this locking means comprises members 215 pivoted to the arms 264 at 216 and provided with handles 211. Members 215 are slotted as at 218, the slots being provided adjacent their ends with recesses 219. Brackets 280 fixed to members 266 are provided with pins 28! riding in slots 218 and engageable in recesses 219 to hold arms 264 in either of their extreme positions. As shown in Fig. 31 pins 28I are engaged in the recesses 2 19 adjacent arm 264 retaining the roll in inoperative position. Clockwise rotation of handles 211 raise members 215 as shown in Fig. 32, to release pins 28I from the recess, permitting arms 264 to be swung to their operative position shown in Fig. 33, in which members 215 are moved counterclockwise to engage pins 281 in the recesses 219 at the free end of member 215. In operative position the fork 262 serves as a handle by which the operator presses the roll against the tread, the members 264, 215 and 280 forming a rigid supporting frame.

To facilitate movement of the tread roll to and from operative position (Figs. 1 and 33), its supporting frame is counter-balanced by weights 285 connected to chains 286'which passes over free sprockets 281, journaled in plates I50, and are connected to arms 288 secured to members 264 at 289.

.The roll H3, 222 and 229 about which the fabric and tread strips pass to the several guiding members, as previously described, are connected together by a sprocket chain 290 (Fig. 1) and are constantly driven by a sprocket chain 29I from sprocket 292 driven by gearing 293 from the power plant in casing I2.

The operation of the machine as a whole will now be briefly described.

With the drum and fabric lappers in the relative position shown in Fig. 12, pedal I20 is depressed to move the fabric feed forward into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. The operator then draws the end of the fabric strip forward onto the drum and pressing it against the surface of the drum depresses pedal 4I causing the drum to. rotate at low speed to wind the fabric onto the drum. The clip 350 (Fig. 2) assists the operator in holding the end of the fabric strip on the drum. As the fabric is'drawn onto the drum it is tightened against the driven roll I13 which thus assists in drawing the material from the roll IID. When the desired amount of fabric has been wound on the drum the operator stops the drum and tears or otherwise severs the wound portion from the strip. The table I I4 is then returned to the position shown in full line in Fig. 1. The rearward move ment of the table slackens the fabric at roll II3, thus releasing the feeding action of said roll.

In Fig. 13 a single ply of fabric a is shown wound on the drum, the edge portions of which overlie lap-ping members I4 and I5.

As the next step the operator draws forward the bead guiding slide M1 by means of handle I63 and by means of handle 2|"5 draws forward carriage I14 to position rolls 2H! over the extending ends of the head wires, as shown in Figs. 14 and 2'7. The drum is then set in slow motion to draw two or more convolutions onto the drum on top of the fabric and overlying bead grooves 13 into which the bead material and underlying fabric is pressed by rolls am. When the desired amount of bead material has been wound on the drum, handle I99 is swung forward to sever the bead material and carriage I14 and slide I45 are then returned to inoperative position. As indicated at MI in Fig. 2, small squares of square woven fabric are applied to the carcass fabric on the drum, prior to the application of the beads, in position to be wrapped around the severed ends of the bead lengths b after the latter have been severed.

Arm 16 is now raised from the position shown in Fig. '5 to that shown in Fig. 19 permitting follower head pin 12 to engage in groove 13. The drum is now placed in high speed rotation causing lapping cylinder I4 to move from dotted line position, Fig. 15, to the full line position in that figure, lapping the marginal portion of the fabric over the bead members and onto the central portion of the fabric. As member I4 reaches the limit of its advance, heads 88 are coupled between fingers 90 and upon the return of member I4, member I5 is in turn drawn over the drum, as shown in Fig, 16, lapping the other marginal portion over the adjacent bead elements and into overlapping relation with the edge of the previously folded portion. A two ply carcass is thus produced.

The drum I 0 is now brought to rest and members I4 and I5 are uncoupled by actuation of handle 98, member I5 being drawn by hand to the outer end of shaft II as shown in Figs. 17.

The tread guide 245 is drawn into operative position with the drum by handles 255 and the tread and side wall strip applied to the carcass by means of roll 26!) as shown in Fig. 17.

The drum I0 is collapsed as previously described and the finished tire removed by way of the space a: between member I5 and the drum, Fig. 17. Member I5 is then returned tothe initial position shown in Fig. 12 and the machine is ready for the construction of another tire.

I claim: 1. In a tire building machine which includes a. rotatable shaft, power means for rotating the shaft and a building drum mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; a pair of openended cylindrical members slidably mounted on the shaft on opposite sides of the drum for rotation therewith and normally position-ed withtheir free edge portions overlapping the adjacent edge portions of the drum, a plurality of guide devices mounted in superposed relation at the rear of the drum and independently movable along converging paths into substantially tangential relation with the surface of the drum for respectively and successively presenting the ends of lengths of carcass fabric, bead material and tread material to the drum to be wound thereon, means to move one of said cylindrical members toward and over the drum to lap one edge portion of the fabric onto the central portion of the fabric and to return said member to initial position, means for releasably connecting the other cylindrical member to the first member to cause the second member to be drawn over the drum as the first member returns to initial position to thereby lap the other edge portion of the fabric onto'the central portion, and means to release the cylindrical members from each other.

2. In a tire building machine which includes a rotatable shaft, power means for rotating the shaft and a building drum mounted 'on the shaft for rotation therewith; a pair of openended cylindrical members slidably mounted on the shaft on opposite sides of the drum forrotation therewith; a plurality of guide members mounted in superposed" relation at the rear of the drum and independently movable along converging paths into substantially tangential relation with the surface of the drum for respectively and successively presenting the ends of lengths of carcass fabric, bead material and tread material to the drum to be wound thereon, means to reciprocate one of said cylindrical members to and from telescoping relation with the drum complementary coupling elements carried by the cylindrical members and engaging each other when the first member reaches the limit of its telescoping movement to automatically couple the members together to draw the second member into telescoping relation with the drum as the first member returns toinitial position, and means to release said coupling members. V r 3. In a tire building machine which includes a rotatable shaft, power means for rotating the shaft and a building .drum'mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; a pair of openended cylindrical members positioned on opposite sides of the drum and slidably mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a guiding device for feeding a strip of fabric to the drum to be wound thereon with the edges of the strip overlapping the cylindrical members, a second guiding device for feeding two strips of bead material to the drum and onto the fabric in spaced relation with each other and with the edges of thefabric, means to successively move said cylindrical members to and from telescoping relation with the drum to successively lap the edge portions of the fabric over the bead elements and onto the portion of the fabric intermediate the beads, and a third guiding device for feeding a strip of tread and sidewall material to the drum and onto the lapped fabric, said three guiding devices being mounted in superposed relation at the rear of the drum and independently movable along converging paths, from inoperative positions remote from the drum to feeding, positions substantially tangential with the surface of the drum.

4. In a tire building machine which includes a rotatable cantilever shaft, power means for rotating the shaft and a collapsible building drum mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; outer and inner open-ended cylindrical member's slidably mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith on opposite sides of the drum, and normally positioned with their free edge portions overlapping the adjacent edge portions of the drum, a spring actuated detent preventing movement of the outer member from normal position in a direction away from the drum, means to move one of said members to and from telescoping relation with the drum, means to couple the outer member to the inner member when the latter is in telescoped relation with the drum to cause the outer member to be drawn into telescoped relationwith the drum as the inner member returns to normal position and means to simultaneously release the coupling means and said spring actuated detent to permit the outer member to be moved to the outer end of the shaft and in spaced relation with the drum.

5. In a. tire building machine which includes a' rotatable shaft, a building drum mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of openended cylindrical members slidably mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and normally positioned with their free edge portions adjacent the edge portions of the drum, means to move one of said members to and from telescoping relation with the drum, and means to releasably couple the members together to cause the second member to move into telescoping relation with the drum as the first member is returned from telescoping position.

6. In a tire building machine, a rotatable building drum; a pair of cylindrical members mounted on opposite sides of the drum for movement to and from telescoping relation with the drum, and means to releasably couple said members together in a fixed predetermined spaced relation for simultaneous movement in the same direction with respect to the drum.

- CHARLES H. DESAUTELS. 

